Vessel filling valve



June 27, 1950 R. F. QUAM 2,512,965

VESSEL FILLING VALVE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 2 sheets-sheet 1 y /3 i i 52 lH W@ HI" |||||y I 5 55 5d 65 June 27, 1950 v R, F, QUAM 2,512,965

VESSEL FILLINGV VALVE 167.77 TURN/E' VS.

Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE VESSEL FILLING VALVE Ranold F. Quam, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application January 14, 1949, Serial No. 70,920

This invention relates to improvements in vessel filling valves.

In filling bottles .oir the like with liquids ISuch as milk, the vtendency of said liquids 'to foam .seriously interferes with the lling operation when conventional filling valves are used. This ,foaming necessitates the .slowing down of the filling operation to a rate at which a minimum amount of foam is v,produced and necessarily results in low efficiency.

My copending .application ,Serial No. 41,995, led .August 2, 1948, discloses a vessel filling valve of the same general .type as the present invention, but which operates by being lowered into sealing engagement with the upper end of .the vessel to be filled, rather than by having the vessel raised into operative relationship therewith.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a valve adapted to be more rapidly operated to expedite the filling of vessels with va liquid, the filling operation, when said valve `-is used, being substantially unaffected by the formation of foam from said liquid.

A further r`object vof the invention is to provide .a valve Iof the class described which may be quickly and easily disassembled .and cleaned, and which is well adapted for use in lthe food in- -dustry A further .object of the invention is to provide a vessel ,lling valve of the class described which is adapted for use with a pedestal type vessel filling machine wherein the vessel to be filled is raised into operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vessel iilling valve which is strong .anddurabla which is fast and positive in its operation, and which is easy to manufacture and repair.

With the .above and other objects in view, the invention lconsists of the improved vvessel l-lliug valve and all of its partsand combinations as .set forth in the claims, .and all `equivalents thereof.

In :the `rdrawing accompanying and yforming a part-of this specification, wherein vlis shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention and wherein the same reference characters indicate the same parts in Iall 'of the views: t

Fig. A1 is a side view of 'the Vimproved valve 'in closed position;

Fig. 2 .is a vertical sectional view of the 11mproved valve taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. l:

Fig. 3 is a view .similar `:to Fig. `2 showing `the improved valve inlopen position with a bottle in ,operative :relation therewith;

12 Claims. (Cl. 22S- 124) 'the line 4-4 or Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view of the lower seal.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I0 indicates the bottom of a ltank which is adapted to supply the liquid for the vessels to be `filled, and the numeral Il indicates the improved vessel filling valve. The improved valve iII comprises an elongated tubular member I2 which may 'be of vany suitable length and which may 'be formed at Aits upper end with .an enlarged portion I3 having an upper externally threaded vportion I4 and a lower externally threaded portion I5. The tank IU is preferably yformed with an aperture I6 in the bottom thereof, Vthrough whichthe portion I3 eX- tends and around the margin of which said bottom [is 'formed with a downwardly sloping -annular portion Il. The portion I3 is Iformed at its upper end with an angularly outwardly and upwardly projecting flange I8, the underside of Which rests on the upper surface of the annular sloping portion Il. The member I2 may have a portion of increased internal diameter I 9 at its upper end. An annular collar 20 is preferably threaded on the threaded portion I4' of the member I2, and an annular gasket 2|, of rubber or other suitable material, surrounds the portion I4 between the collar 20 and the under side ofthe sloping portion Il of the tank I0. The collar 20 is suiliciently tightened on the portion I4 to prevent leakage past the gasket 2|.

A substantially cylindrical stem 22 having an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the tube I2 has one end thereof inserted into the lower end of the tube I2 and fixed thereto.

The lower end yportion of the tube I2 and the upper 'end portion of the stem `22 are formed with an elongated slot 23 which extends diamet- `rlcally ltherethrough as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. At its lower end the stem 22 is formed with a circumferential groove 24 1in which is seated an annular sealing ring 25.

Axially slidableon the tube I2 is an upper sleeve, and slidable on the lower end of the upper sleeve 26 is `a lower sleeve 2l. Adjacent its upper end the sleeve 26 has a portion .28 with a bore diameter substantially equal to .the outer diameter of ,the `tube I2. At the upper end fof `the portion 28 lthe sleeve 26 is `formed with an internal .annular groove 29 in which is .seated an annular sealing ring 30.

Below the ,porti-on 28 the sleeve 2B is formed with a portion 3| which has .a bore diameter 4cates with the interior of the chamber 3B.

3 substantially larger than the -bore of the portion 28. Below the portion 3| the sleeve 26 is formed with a portion 32 having a bore diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the stem 22 and having an outside diameter approximately the same as that of the tube l2. The lower end of the portion 32 communicates with a portion 33 having an increased wall thickness which forms a shoulder'34 atthe upper end thereof. The portion 33 is-formed with an external circumferential groove 35 in which is seated an annular sealing ring 36. The lower sleeve 21 has a portion 31 whic has an axial bore of substantially the same dir` ameter as the outer diameter of the portion 3|v of the sleeve 26. Below theportion 31 the sleeve 21 is formed with a chamber`38 of enlarged'diameter. A 4conduit 39 preferably l projects through the wall of the sleeve 21 and communi- A exible tube 46 is connected to the outer end of the tube 39 and. communicates by suitable connections (not shown) with any suitable receptacle or with the tank l at a vpoint above the level of the iluid therein. l l Below the `chamber 38, the sleeve 21 is formed with a portion 4| having a bore diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter ."of tthe portion 33 of the upper sleeve 26. The lower end of the portion 4| terminates in a flaredseat 30 42. Projecting outwardly and downwardly from the sleeve 21 adjacent they lower end of the chamber 38 is a cup-shaped flange 43 which has an annular internal flare 44- at its lower end. a The ange 43 has an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter ofY the mouth of the vessel 45 to be filled. An annular sealing ring 46, having a substantially .triangular cross-sectional shape, is seated in 'them annular recess 41 formed by the cup-,shaped 40 iiange 43 in the mannershown inFigs.- 23 and 5. The sleeve 21 at its upper end'is formed with an internal annular groove 12 in which is seated an annular sealing ring 13. e J The sleeve 26 at its upper end is formed with an enlarged portion 48 and is provided with an annular shoulder 49. The sleeves 21 are formed with an external annular shoulder 50, Iand a helical `compression spring is positioned. around the sleeves v26 and 21 with itsends abut- 5o ting the shoulders 49 andv 50 of said sleeves, `as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3.

Threaded onto the portion l5 of the vtube l2 is a nut or collar 52 (see Fig. 1).. Fixed as lby welding to the lower end of the collar52 is.v a yoke. 53 having a pair of arms 54 and `55 extending outwardly andA downwardly from. .the collar` 52 on diametrically opposite sides thereof. A pair of links 5fand1g51` areformed withtheir central portions loffset outwardly, land are pivotallyconnected in these offset portions with the lower ends of the arm's'54 and 55-respectively, as at and 1|. @i Pivotally connectedat their upper. ends to di. ametrically opposite points 'on theportionf48 on the sleeve 26, as at 601 and` lil;rv are links-58 and 59. `The lower endsof the links 58"'and59 arel pivotally connected to`'end"f`portions ofthe links 55 and 51, as atl E2 and 63. Pivotally' connected at their lower ends to diametrically opposite points on the portion'31 of the sleevef21, as at` 64 and 65, are a pair of links 66`a11d 61. The upper ends of the linksj66and'61 arej piv-h` otally connected t o the ends'of A'the leverI 56 and '75 improved valve is embodied in a'pedestal type ring 36, as shown in Fig.l 3.

-the sleeve 26, and into the bottle 45.

4 51 opposite the connections 62 and 33, as at 68 and 69.

In operation, the improved valve, when in shut-off position, is disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. vWhen the parts of the improved valve are so arranged, the stem 22 has its sealing ring positioned in the bore of the portion 32 of the sleeve 26. This seals off the tube l2 and prevents any liquid from passing down from said tube and out through the lower end of the sleeve 26. At the same time, the compression 1: yspring 5i, by pressing axially against the shoulders49 and 56, forces the sealing ring 36, which is on the lower end of the sleeve 2G, against the bevelled surface 42 on the lower end of the 'sleeve 21 (see Fig. 5), therebiT sealing oli the lower end Vof the sleeve 21.

The annular sealing ring is of such size that it will not compress suiTiciently to pass into the bore of the portion 4| of the sleeve 21.

When itis desired to ll a vessel, such as the bottle.45 with fluid from the tanky IE, the

bottle is placed below the lower end of the sleeve 26 in coaxial relationship therewith. Where the vessel filling machine, the bottle is positioned as above'stated, on the pedestal below said valve. The pedestal is then actuated in a'manner to move the bottle upwardly to a position where ,themouth of said bottle abuts the annular seal- 1 ing ring'j46 within the flange 43. Further upwardv movement of the bottle 45 forces the sleeve 21 upwardly. Through the linkage connecting 'y the sleeves'26 and 21 the sleeve 26 is moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. This places the lower end portion 33 and a part of the portion 32 of the sleeve 2 6 within the neck of the bottle 45; It will be noted that the neck of the bottle 45 is of substantially larger internal diameter than the outer diameter of the portion 33 of the sleeve 26 therein. As the sleeve 26 `moves downwardly and as the sleeve 21 moves `the sleeve 26 moves the ared seat 42 out of sealing engagement with the annular sealing Since the stem 22 is' withdrawn from the portion 32 of the sleeve 26, fluid will now iiow down through the tube |2, slot23, bores of the portions 3| and 32 of As a result, fluid will be directed toward the bottom of the bottle 45 in asolid fast moving stream.

'As fluid thus enters the'bottle 45, the air in the bottle, as well as any foam created by the fluid,

60. the sleeve 26, through the bore of the portion 4| at the lower end of the sleeve 21, through the `chamber 38 and Ltube 33, and out through the tube 4U to a suitable receptacle or back into the Will `pass upwardly around the portion 33 of tank y| 0, or into a vacuum device.

f Aiter..the bottle 45 has been lled with liquid, the pedestal vand the bottle 45 may then be lowered., Urged by the springv 5l, the sleeve 21 wmthen'move downwardly with the borne 45, and simultaneously the sleeve26 will move upwardly to thefposition of Fig.. 2. This causes withdrawal of theiower end of the'sieeve' 2s fromV the bottle' and movement of the' portion 32'` of said sleeve 2|y upwardly around and" into sealing engagement.'l withA the lower end ofthe *stem 22.

Continued Supward movement of vthe sleeve 26 and `downward movement of the sleeve 21 brings thev annular sealing ring '.36 into sealing engagement vwith 'the .annular flared yseat 42.

Upon engagement .of thering .36 vwith the seat 42, further downward movement'of the bottle `l5 moves `the mouth of said loottle out .rotengagement with the annular sealing ring 66, and

the bottle may then be removed from its position lbelow the filling valve. As the .portlonZ of the sleeve 26 moves upwardly into sealing .en-

. gagement with the lower end of Ithe `stem .22,

the flow of fluid downwardly :through .the tube v I2 is shut ofi, and as the sealing ring .36 :engages the flared annular .seat 42, the portion 4I of thelower sleeve 21 is .sealed oit, thereby jpreventing any foam or lfluid from flowing Abaci:

into the bottle from the chamber 38. v It will be noted that the improved valve .de-

livers -a large volume of liquid in a centrally Alocated stream to the bottom of the vessel boing filled, and that Vthe liquid then rises inthe vbottle around the entering stream, driving .the lair and the .foam `out of the top so that 'it may be carried away -to the tube 4.0. :Due to the fact that 9 5 chine since it can be operated .by merely raising a hottie into operative relationship therewith and no other-operating mechanism is necessary. By reason of its novel construction, the improved valve is fast and positive in operation.

The linkage connecting the sleeves '26 and .2li materially reduces the length of time-necessary to open and close the. improved valve inasmuch as zboth of .said sleeves are moved simultaneously in oppositeldirections rather than successively inthe same direction.

The improved valve is easily disassembled and .cleaned and is well adapted for use in foodindustries. l

Various changes .and modifications may @be made without departing from the spiritlof the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated, as may come within .the .scope of `th claims.

What I claim is: l

l. A vessel filling valve comprising a liuuid'inu let conduit; a first sleeve :telescopically :associated with said conduit, said sleeve having an end portion adapted to be positioned in a vessel to be filled; a second sleeve telescopically associated with said first sleeve, saidA second sleeve having'a vessel-mouth-sealing portion anclalso havlnga vent; linkage connecting said first and `second sleeves and responsive to telescopic movement of said second sleeve for causing tel-escopicmovcment of said first sleeve; and means responsive to said telescopic movement of said first sleeve in one direction for preventing the flow of fluid through said first sleeve.

2. rA vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit; a rst sleeve telescopically associated with said conduit, said sleeve having an end portion adapted to be positioned in a vessel to be filled; a second sleeve telescopically associated with said first sleeve, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having a vent; linkage connecting said first and second sleeves and responsive to telescopic movement of said second sleeve for causing telescopic move- Sil mentof said'firstsleeve in the-opposite direction; and means responsive to said telescopic movement of said first sleeve in one direction `for preventing the flow of fluid throughA said-first sleeve.

3, A vessel filling valve Vcomprising a liquid inlet conduit; a stem carried by said inlet conduit.; a first sleeve telescopically associated with said conduit and with said stem, said sleeve having an -end portion adapted to be positioned in a vessel "to vhe filled; a second sleeve telescopically associated with said first mentioned sleeve, said second .sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion vand also 'having avent; and linkage connecting said `first and second sleeves, said stem being positionedv to prevent the flow ofV fluid through .the first sleeve after said first sleeve has 'been-.telescopically moved in one direction by said linkage in response to telescopic movement of said second sleeve', 4. .A vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit; a first sleeve telescopically associated with said` conduit, said sleeve having an end :portion adapted to be positioned in a vessel to be filled; a second Isleeve telescopicallyassociated Awith said rstsleeve, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having ka vent; klinkage .connecting said first and secondsleeves and responsive to telescopic movement 'of said second sleeve for causing telescopic .movement of .said first sleeve; means responsive vto said ltelescopic movement of said rst sleeve in one direction for preventing the flow of fluid through said first sleeve; and means on said first sleeve responsive to `telescopic movement thereof in said direction for sealing the vent in said second sleeve.'

.5. A vessel filling valve comprising a liquid in- .let conduit.; a first `sleeve telescopically associated with said conduit, saidsleeve having an end portion adapted to be positioned in a vessel to be *.filled; a second sleeve telesoopically associated lwith saidqfirst sleeve, said second sleeve having a vessel-.mouth-.sealing portion and also having a vent; linkage connecting said first and second sleevesand responsive to telescopic movement of said second sleeve for causing telescopio move- Ament of said Ifirst sleeve; and means responsive to saidrtelescopic movement of said first `sleeve 5o in one direction for preventing the flow offiuid lthroughsaid first sleeve and for sealing said vent.

6. A vessel filling valve comprising a vertically rextending liquid inlet conduit; a first sleeve telescopically associated with said conduit and having an end portion adapted to be positioned in the Avessel to be filled; a stem Acarried by said -conduit and normally .positioned to prevent the flow of fluid through said first sleeve; a second sleeve `Vtelescopically associated with said first `lillsleeve,` said .second vsleeve having a vessel-mouth- :sealingportion and also having. a vent.; .and linkage connecting said first and second sleeves.for simultaneous 4movement in opposite directions, whereby-apredetermined upward movement of said second sleeve causes simultaneous downward movement of the first sleeve to a position wherein fluid is permitted to flow therethrough. 7. A vessel filling valve comprising a vertically extending liquid inlet conduit; a first sleeve telescoplcally slidable on said conduit and having an end portion adapted to be positioned in a vessel to be filled; a stem carried by said conduit and normally positioned to prevent the flow of fluid through the first sleeve; a second sleeve telescopically slidable on said first sleeve, said secf7 ond sleeve having a vessel-ir'ioitl-"sealing portion and also having a vent, there being an annular space between said sleeves adjacent said mouth sealing means, said annular space communicating with said vent and with the vessel engaging side of said mouth-sealing means; means on said first sleeve normallysealing off the annular space between said first and second sleeves; and linkage connecting said first and second sleeves for simultaneous movementin opposite directions, whereby a predetermined upward movement of saidv second sleeve Vcauses simultaneous downward movement of said iirst sleeve to a position wherein fluid is permitted to flow 'therethrough and wherein the annular` space between said sleeves is open.

8. A vessel iilling valve comprising a liquid iniilled; a second sleeve telescopically associated with said first sleeve, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having :a vent; linkage connecting said first 'andsecond sleeves and responsive to telescopic movement of said second sleeve for causing telescopic movement of said first sleeve, said linkage including a lever fulcrumed intermediate its length, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said rst sleeve and at the other end to one end of said lever, and a second link pivotally connected at one end to said second sleeve and at the other end to the other end of said lever; and means responsive to said telescopic movement of said first sleeve in one direction for preventing the iiow of fluid through said rst sleeve.

9. A vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit; a first sleeve telescopically associated with said conduit, said sleeve having an end portion adapted to be positioned in a vessel to be filled; a second sleeve telescopicallyassociated with said first sleeve, said second'sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having a vent; a pair of levers pivotally supported intermediate their length on opposite sides of said conduit; a first pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to one end of said levers and at the other end to said rst sleeve; a second pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to the other end of one of saidy levers and at the opposite endto said second sleeve, said levers 4and links being arranged to cause telescopic movement of said iirst sleeve in response to telescopic movement of said second sleeve; and means responsive to said telescopicvv yassociated with said first sleeve, said second 'sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and 'also having a vent; a yoke iixed to said inlet .con- `duit and having a pair of depending arms posivof said levers and at the other end to said first sleeve; -a second pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to the other end of one of said levers and at the opposite end to said second sleeve, said levers and links being arranged to cause telescopic movement of said first sleeve in response to telescopic movement of said second sleeve; and means responsive to said telescopic movement of said iirst sleeve in one direction for preventing the flow of fluid through said first sleeve.

11. A vessel iilling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit; a rst sleeve member telescopically associated with said conduit, said sleeve having an end portion adapted to be positioned in a Vessel to' be filled; a second sleeve telescopically associated with said first sleeve, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having avent; a yoke iixed to said inlet conduit and having a pair of depending arms positioned on opposite sides of said conduit; a lever pivotally connected intermediate its length to the lower end of each of said arms; a first pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to one end of said levers and at the other' end to said rst sleeve; a second pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to the other end of one of said levers and at the opposite end to said second sleeve, said levers and links being arranged to cause telescopic movement of said first sleeve in response to simultaneous telescopic movement of said second sleeve in the opposite direction; and means responsive to said telescopic 'movement of said first sleeve in one direction for preventing the iioW of fluid through said iirst sleeve.

ing portion and also having a vent; linkage connecting said first and second sleeves for simultaneous movement in opposite directions, whereby a predetermined upward movement of said second sleeve causes simultaneous downward movement of the iirst sleeve to a position wherein fluid is permitted to iiow therethrough, and means for urging said first and second sleeves f in opposite axial directions.

RANOLD F. QUAM.

-No references cited.A 

